Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Allen, TX
VS
West Palm Beach, FL
🏆 Allen leads 15 of 23 categories
Allen
Texas
15
wins
Cost of Living Index
103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$121,259 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
28 ✓ Safer
Population
105,444
West Palm Beach
Florida
8
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.8⚠ High
Median Household Income
$64,044
Violent Crime Index
152⚠ High
Population
117,588 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Allen, TX
Pros
Households earn $57,215 more per year on average
82% less violent crime than West Palm Beach
Violent crime is well below the national average (106.4 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.9 pts lower (4.3%)
More college-educated — 55.2% hold a bachelor's or higher
9% cheaper overall cost of living than West Palm Beach
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $390,200
Higher rents — median is $1,747/mo
West Palm Beach, FL
Pros
Homes cost $65k less ($324,800 vs $390,200)
Milder winters — January highs near 75°F vs 56°F
Commutes run 3 min shorter each way
Rent averages $133/mo less ($1,614 vs $1,747)
Cooler summers — July highs near 90°F vs 95°F
Cons
Median income trails Allen by $57,215/yr
Violent crime (575.8/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.8)
Higher unemployment (6.2% vs 4.3%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Allen
Cost of Living
9% cheaper
COL index 103.3 vs 111.8 (100 = US avg)
Allen
Median Income
$57,215
$121,259 vs $64,044/yr
Allen
Violent Crime
82% lower
106.4 vs 575.8 per 100k
Allen
Unemployment
1.9 pp lower
4.3% vs 6.2% unemployment
Allen
Summer Heat
5.0°F warmer
July avg high 95.0°F vs 90.0°F
West Palm Beach
Median Home Value
$65k less
$324,800 vs $390,200
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Allen, TX | West Palm Beach, FL |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 103.3⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.8⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $390,200⚠ High | $324,800⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,747⚠ High | $1,614⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $121,259 ✓ Higher | $64,044 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.3%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.2%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.0 min | 23.8 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 21.4% ✓ Higher | 11.6% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 34 ✓ Safer | 132⚠ High |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 28 ✓ Safer | 152⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 42 ✓ Safer | 102⚠ High |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | A (125) ✓ Better | B (103) |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller | 16.4:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 55.2% ✓ Higher | 37.5% |
| High School or Higher | 95.8% ✓ Higher | 86.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | ALLEN ISD | PALM BEACH |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.5°F | 74.7°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 95.0°F ✓ Warmer | 90.0°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 40.8" ✓ Drier | 61.7" |
| Annual Snowfall | 2.6" | 0.0" ✓ Less |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 105,444 | 117,588 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 37.8 | 40.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 70.9% ✓ Higher | 49.8% |
| Under 18 | 25.9% ✓ More | 17.6% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 19.9% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Allen's cost of living index is 103.3 vs West Palm Beach's 111.8 (US average = 100).
Allen is 8% less expensive overall.
Based on the 23 decided categories above, Allen leads 15 of 23 categories. Allen wins 15 and West Palm Beach wins 8. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Allen to West Palm Beach or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($390,200 vs $324,800 median home), income ($121,259 vs $64,044), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Allen, TX and West Palm Beach, FL are about 1,082 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.